Bollywood has always been a land of glitz, drama, and the occasional behind-the-scenes intrigue, but in December 2025, two stories—one about a daring new web series and another about a decades-old act of humility—have captured the industry’s imagination for very different reasons. Both tales, though separated by years and genre, spotlight the evolving faces of stardom and the enduring impact of personal integrity.
First, there’s the much-anticipated web series “Mrs Deshpande,” set to premiere on JioHotstar on December 19, 2025. At the heart of the show is Madhuri Dixit, an actor whose career has spanned decades and whose roles have, until now, largely defined Bollywood glamour. But “Mrs Deshpande” marks a radical departure: Dixit will play an imprisoned female serial killer, a character whose emotional complexity and rawness are a far cry from her celebrated turns in films like “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” “Dil Toh Pagal Hai,” and “Devdas.”
Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Kukunoor Movies, the six-episode psychological thriller is a Hindi adaptation of the 2017 French show “La Mante.” According to PTI, both Dixit and Kukunoor were intentional in their decision to focus on the character’s emotional depth rather than indulge in graphic violence or gore. “The responsibility is always there. But we are actors, we play different kinds of roles and we cannot be responsible for everything. As a director, he (Kukunoor) was very clear that it’s not the violence that we’re talking about, it’s not the killings, it’s the emotion, it’s not like gore and all,” Dixit explained in a recent interview. She added, “It’s the story, it’s her character, it’s the revelations and what’s happened with her, those are the important part of the story. So, when people watch the series, they’ll realise that it’s not about just that (violence). We were never going for shock value.”
Kukunoor echoed these sentiments, telling PTI, “It was a very, very conscious choice to make sure that we kept the drama and the twists and the relationships working as opposed to the gore and the violence to take center stage.”
Dixit, now 58, admitted that when first approached for the role, she was momentarily taken aback by the idea of playing a serial killer. But it was the character’s layers and the story’s focus on emotion, not just the act of killing, that drew her in. “For a second, I was like, me, serial killer? But it’s not about just being a serial killer, it’s about her story, it’s about who she is, the layers ‘Mrs Deshpande’ has; she’s seemingly just an ordinary housewife but there’s so much more to her than that. It’s not just about the killing but it’s more of the emotion, and that’s what I liked about the character,” Dixit shared.
“Mrs Deshpande” is also her first collaboration with Kukunoor, whose previous works include “Dor,” “Khanak,” and “City of Dreams.” Dixit said she had long admired his style of storytelling. “With Nagesh being the director and Applause being the producers, I had faith in them that they would make it relatable, something that people can watch and make the character believable, it won’t be like outlandish or what’s going on, and put it in an Indian context and especially for the woman because I don’t think we have had any serial killer on screen, not in the Indian space,” she remarked.
The adaptation of “La Mante” into an Indian context was no small feat. Kukunoor described the original French series as “serious and brooding,” but said he sought to balance the Hindi version with darker elements and liveliness, infusing it with “Indianness.” “Adapting a French show into an Indian context just doesn’t mean taking the plot, it’s really driving home the Indian-ness, and making it real and acceptable to an audience,” he told PTI. He emphasized the challenge of stripping away Dixit’s glamorous persona to reveal the severe, controlled character of Mrs Deshpande. “The one that I worked hardest at was to remove MD out (referring to real-life persona), because she, as a person, she’s very free. I wanted ‘Mrs Deshpande’ to be someone who controlled the space around her. When people speak less, they look a lot, they automatically control the room, and I wanted ‘Mrs Deshpande’ to do that. I wanted to see in my head, less of Madhuri, and wanted this quiet, strong character to emerge.”
The result, he hopes, is not just a compelling thriller, but a character that resonates with Indian audiences as both believable and groundbreaking. Dixit herself noted that even her children were surprised by her choice, while her husband was curious about her approach. “He wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of it, and was like, more power if you can play something like this,” she said.
While Bollywood is busy breaking new ground with “Mrs Deshpande,” another story from the past has resurfaced, reminding fans of the industry’s more human side. In an anecdote shared by veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee, the late 1980s and early 1990s power dynamics of Bollywood take a backseat to humility and integrity.
Back in 1990, Chatterjee was approached to star in “Ghayal,” a film that would become a career-defining moment for Sunny Deol and was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. However, negotiations over her fee hit a snag, and she initially refused to participate. According to a recent article published on December 14, 2025, Dharmendra, Sunny Deol’s father and a legendary actor in his own right, stepped in personally. Instead of leveraging his star power or exerting pressure, Dharmendra visited Chatterjee at her home, a place she described as never being a “filmy adda,” and assured her she would be paid every rupee she deserved—“not one rupee less.” Touched by his humility and honesty, Chatterjee agreed to join the project.
She went on to play Sunny Deol’s sister-in-law in “Ghayal,” alongside Raj Babbar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Anupam Kher, and Sharat Saxena. The film turned out to be a massive box-office blockbuster and is still considered one of Sunny Deol’s most iconic works. Sometimes, as the article notes, it’s not loud gestures but quiet integrity that leaves the strongest impression—and Dharmendra’s intervention remains one of Bollywood’s most graceful behind-the-scenes moments.
Both stories, though different in tone and era, reveal much about the shifting landscape of Indian cinema. On one hand, there’s the bold creative risk of “Mrs Deshpande,” challenging stereotypes and pushing boundaries. On the other, there’s the enduring value of humility and respect—qualities that, even decades later, continue to shape how Bollywood’s biggest names are remembered.
As audiences prepare for the release of “Mrs Deshpande” and revisit the legacy of films like “Ghayal,” these tales serve as reminders that, whether on screen or off, it’s the depth of character—real or fictional—that truly captivates.
